Attachment for boots, shoes, and the like.



C. C. CUMMINGS.

ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.15,1911,

1,053,361. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

ulmnunmm 4 CHARLIE c. CUMMINGS, or sT. LOUIS, mlsso'onr.

ATTACHMENT r011 noo'rssnons, AND THE LIKE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18,1913.

Application filed necember 15, 1911. semina- 665,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLIE C. CUM- I MINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the 'city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Boots, Shoes, and the Like,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which a Figure ,1 is a side elevational view of a shoe with the heel thereof partly in section, showing, in vertical section, my new attachment in operative position thereon; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;-. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my new attachment or heel covering; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a slightly modified form of my invention. i

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in attachments for boots, shoes, and the like, the objects of my invention being to provide a removable or detachable covering or attachment to fit particularly the shoe-heel and to be used' or worn especially in rainy, snowy, or-other rough or inclement weather and adapted to serve as a protection for the heel and as an anti-slipping device for the shoe to lessen or obviate the danger of walking on wet or slippery pavements and the like, which is adapted to be readily attached in operative position on the shoe-heel, which is adapted to be quickly and easily detached from the shoeheel and without the use of the hands, tools, or the like, which is simple in construction, which may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, and to improve generally upon attachments or devices of the kind stated.

'ith these objects in view, my invention resides in'the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new heel covering or attachment, and in the novel arrangement and combination of the same with a shoe-heel, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, A indicates a shoe of ordinary construction provided with new attachment or covering is adapted to fit and detachably engage.

My new heel covering or attachment comprises a preferably metallic body portion or shell C. made to conform to the contour of,

and adapted to fit on, a particular heel B and' having means, hereinafter described,

adapted to detachably engage with, and

thereby removabl hold the same on, said heel B, and a pre erably rubber or other resilient or yielding cushion, pad, or the like D arrangedon, and supported by, said shell or body portion and adapted, when my new heel covering is in operative position on the heel, to fit under the heeland-provide an anti-sli ping ground-engaging portion,

The ody portion or shell C is madeup of or compr ses a curved, substantially U- shaped vertically disposed wall 1, preferably flaring outwardly from its bottom edge toits top edge and conforming to the .round ed contour of the particular heel B with the usual heel B, on and with which heel my which the covering or attachment is to .be'

used, adapted to embrace said heel when the covering or attachment is inz'position thereon, a-frontvertically-disposed wall 2 adapted'to extendjin frontof heel B, and a floor or base 3 adapted to bear against the under side of heel B, base'3 being preferably a horizontal continuation of front wall 2. The wall 1 is preferably provided at its front edges, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, with short inwardly-extending verticallydisposed flanges 4, to which said front wall 2 is suitably secured, as by means of soldering, base 3 being also suitably secured at its edges, as by soldering, to wall 1.

As the top edge of front wall 2 1s adapted, when the covering is in position on the heel B, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, to bear or rest against the under side or'surface of the sole of the shoe, and as it is desired that the covering shall completely cover the outer surface of heel and thus present a neat appearance when on the shoe, wall 1 is preferably continuedor extended somewhat above the top edge of front wall 2, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4. The wall 1 is also referably extended or continued downwar ly below base 3 and is then bent or doubled inward] to provide a substantially U-shaped -l1()[lZOllitll Y-tl isposed flange 5 adapted to fit in and cooperfaces of the resilient or yielding pad D, the

pad D, which is of a size and shape in plan, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, correspond ing with the bottom of body portion or shell C, being thereby removably held in proper operative or ground engaging position. Due to the elastic or yielding properties or character of pad D, on being engaged with said flange 5 as described it will closely hug the same and thus be ordinarily or normally held in operative position and against displacement; should it be desired, however, to renew the pad D, the old or worn pad D may be removed by positive pressure being exerted thereon from the rear and in a forward direction, as will be clear. V

To secure or hold my new attachment or covering firmly, but deta chably, in operative engagement with heel B, I preferably provide or form approximately centrally on the inner surface of wall lof body-portion or shell C adjacent its top edge an inwardlyextending projection 7 adapted, when my covering or attachment is in operative position, to fit in and removably engage with a preferabl embedded in proper cooperative position in therear face of heel B, as shown particularly in'Fig. 1. I also suitably secure at one end to said front wall 2-, and directly opposite said projection 7, 3. preferably fiat leafspring 9, the other end of said spring being free and the body thereof being preferably convexedly curved inwardly or toward rear wall 1. The length of the base 3 and of the legs of said U-shaped wall 1 is slightly greater than the length of heel B to pro vide a space, as at 10, between the front face of heel B and the inner surface of wall 2 for accommodating spring 9. Normally this spring 9 is adapted to bear against and frictionally engage with the front face of heel B and also yieldingly hold or retain wall 1 closely up against the side and rear faces of heel B with said projection 7 in, and engaging with, said pocket 8, my new covering or attachment being thus firmly held in operative position on heel 13. To remove my new covering -or attachment from operative engagement with the heel B, it is merely necessary to exert sufiicient pressure rearwardly on front wall 2 to depress'spring 9, the rear portion of wall 1 thereby being forced away from the rear face of heel B and said projection 7 carried out of engagement with said pocket 8, when the covering or attachment will readily drop off heel B; this removal operation may be easily accomplished by placing said front wall 2 against some accessible stationary obmetallic pocket or the like 8' ject and then pushing the foot forwardly, my new coveringor attachment being thus removable or detachable from the shoe-heel without the use of the hands or any tools or the like.- Preferably said pocket 8 is vertically elongated, so that said projection 7 will readily fit in and engage therewith notwithstanding wear on the under side or'face of heel B.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a-slightly modified form of my invention. In this form, the ground-engaging pad D is secured in any suitable manner, as by means of screws or the like 11, to a substantially U-shaped metallic plate 12 cut-away or recessed on its under side and at its edges, as at 13, and adapted to slidably fit between base 3 and said inturned flange 5, said ground-engaging portion or pad D being thereby firmly held in operative position on body-portion or shell C.

It will be seen that my new attachment or. shoe-heel covering as herein described is small and compact and simple in construction, may be easily manufactured and at a comparatively low cost, may be readily and quickly attached to, or detached from, a shoe-heel without the use of any tools or the like, and may be carried in a pocket or other suitable place for use only in rough or inclement Weather, if desired, and re moved upon entering indoors.

In use, the body-portion or shell C of my new covering or attachment is preferably painted or otherwise colored to match the leather or color. of the leather of the shoeupper of the shoe in connection with which it is to be used; and it will, of course, be understood that my new attachment or shoeheel covering may be made in various shapes or sizes to fit various styles, shapes, and sizes of shoe-heels.

It will further be understood that minor changes in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts of my new attachment or covering may he made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from-the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is? Y 1. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and

the like, a shell adapted to fit on and e'mbrace the shoe heel, a fixed heel-engaging. projection on said shell, resilient means on said shell adapted to frictionally engage with said shoe-heel and cooperate with said projection to detachably hold said shell in operative position on said heel, and a ground-engaging pad carried by said shell; substantially as described. I

2. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and the like, a shell adapted to fit on and cmbrace the shoe heel, a fixed heel-engaging projection on said shell, a fiat spring on said shell adapted to frictionally engage with said shoe-heel and cooperate with said projection to detachably hold said shell in operative position on said heel, and a groundengaging pad carried by said shell; substantially as described.

3. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and the like, a shell adapted to fit on and embrace the shoe heel and having a base and a side wall provided below the plane of said base with a horizontally-disposed portion, and a resilient ground-engaging pad conforming approximately to the shape of said base, said pad fitting under said base and being engaged and carried by said horizontally-disposed portion; substantially as described.

4. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and the like, a shell adapted to fit on and embrace the shoe heel and having a base and a substantially U-shaped sidewall extended below said base and bent inwardly thereunder to provide a horizontally-disposed substantially U-shaped flange, and a groundengaging pad conforming approximately to the shape of said base, said pad fitting under said base and being engaged and carried by said flange; substantially as described.

5. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and the like, the combination with a shell adapted to fit on and embrace the shoe heel and having a base and a side wall provided below the plane of said base with a horizontally-disposed portion, of a ground-engaging pad conforming approximately to the shape of said base, said pad being adapted to fit under said base and to be removably engaged and carried by said horizontallydisposed portion; substantially as described.

6. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and the like, the combination with a shell adapt-- ed to fit on and embrace the shoe heel and having a base and a. substantially U-shaped side wall extended below said base and bent inwardly thereunder to provide a horizontally-disposed substantially U-shaped flange, of a ground-engaging pad conforming approximately to the shape of said base, sald pad being adapted to fit under said base and to be removably engaged and carried by said flange; substantially as described.

7. In an attachment for boots, shoes, and the like, the combination with a shell adapted to fit on and embrace the shoe heel and having a base and a substantially U-shaped side wall extended below said base and bent inwardly thereunder to rovide a horizontally-disposed substantial y U-shaped flange, of a ground-engaging pad conforming approximately to the sha e of said base and being adapted to fit under said base and to be removably engaged and carried by said flange, said pad being provided on its side with a substantially horizontally-disposed groove adapted to receive and cooperate with said flange; substantially as described.

8. An attachment for boots, shoes, and the like comprising a body-portion having a front wall adapted to fit the front face of the shoe-heel, a base adapted to fit the under face of'said heel, a substantially U-shaped side wall adapted to fit and embrace the side and rear faces of said heel and having an inturned flange below said base, means adapted to detachably engage with said heel ,to removably hold said body-portion in operative position thereon, and a resilient ground-engaging portion removably engagin with and carried by said inturned flange be ow said base; substantially as described.

9. An attachment for boots, shoes, and the like comprising a body-portion having a front wall adapted to fit the front face of the shoe-heel, a base adapted to fit the under face of said heel, a substantially U-shaped side wall adapted to fit and embrace the side and rear faces of said heel and havin an inturned flange below said base, a hee -engaging projection on said side wall, a spring on said front wall adapted to cooperate with said projection to detachably hold said body-portion in operative position on said heel, and a resilient ground-engaging portion removably engaging with and carried by said inturned flange; substantially as described.

10. The combination with a shoe heel rovided with a recess in its rear face, of a s ell adapted to fit on and embrace said heel, a fixed projection on said shell adapted to fit in and removably engage with said recess, resilient means on said shell adapted to bear against and frictionally engage with said heel and cooperate with said projection to detachably hold said shell in operative position on said heel, and a ground-engaging portion carried by said shell; substantially as described.

11. The combination with a shoe-heel provided with a recess in its rear face, of a shell adapted to fit on and embrace said heel, a fixed projection on said shell adapted to fit in and removably engage with said recess, a vertically-disposed flat spring on said shell adapted to bear against and frictionally engage with the front face of said heel and cooperate with said projection to detachably hold said shell in o erative position on said heel, and a groun -engaging portion carried by said shell; substantially as described.

12. The combination with a shoe-heel provided with an elongated pocket in its rear face, of a shell adapted to fit on and embrace said heel, a projection on said shell adapted to fit in and removably engage with said pocket, a leaf-spring on said shell opposite said projection adapted to bear against and In testimony whereof; I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 10 frictionally engage with the front face of two subscribing witnesses.

said heel and coiiperate with said projection to detachably hold said shell in operative position on said heel, and a ground-engaging portion carried by said shell; substantially as described.

CHARLIE C. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

JESSE A., Worronr, FLORA D. RAYBUBN: 

